Method for prevention of loss of transparency of polyarylene ester blends

Abstract

A method for prevention of loss of transparency of shaped articles prepared from a polyarylene ester blend comprising a polyarylene ester and other thermoplastic resin when treated with steam or boiling water, which comprises reducing the sodium content of the blend to less than 70 ppm.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A polyarylene ester blend consisting essentially of: (a) a polyarylene ester prepared by an interfacial polymerization process comprising mixing an aqueous solution of a bisphenol and an effective catalytic amount of sodium hydroxide with a solution of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid chloride in an organic solvent and vigorously agitating the mixture and (b) a thermoplastic polyester resin, said blend having present a sodium content of less than 70 ppm and being capable of forming a transparent shaped article which can be treated under conditions of high temperature and high moisture without loss of transparency. 
     
     
       2. The polyarylene ester blend according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic resin is contained in an amount of 2-90% by weight based on the total weight of the blend. 
     
     
       3. The polyarylene ester blend according to claim 2, wherein the sodium is present in an amount less than 50 ppm. 
     
     
       4. A process for preparing a transparent shaped article, which can be treated under conditions of high temperature and high moisture without loss of the transparency thereof, from a polyarylene ester blend comprising: blending (a) a polyarylene ester which is prepared by interfacial polymerization comprising the steps of mixing an aqueous solution of a bisphenol and an effective catalytic amount of sodium hydroxide with a solution of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid chloride in an organic solvent, vigorously agitating the mixture, separating the mixture into two layers including an aqueous layer and an oily layer and washing the oily layer, thereby reducing the sodium content of produced polymer with (b) a thermoplastic polyester resin; and molding the polyarylene ester blend into a shaped article which has present a sodium content of less than 70 ppm. 
     
     
       5. The process according to claim 4, wherein the polyarylene ester blend is molded into a shaped article which has present a sodium content of less than 50 ppm. 
     
     
       6. A transparent molded article having present a sodium content of less than 70 ppm, which can be treated under conditions of high temperature and high moisture without loss of transparency, consisting essentially of: (a) a polyarylene ester prepared by an interfacial polymerization process comprising mixing an aqueous solution of a bisphenol and an effective catalytic amount of sodium hydroxide with a solution of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid chloride in an organic solvent and vigorously agitating the mixture and (b) a thermoplastic polyester resin.